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Analysis: Parrish signing adds depth to struggling Stars

News

Analysis: Parrish signing adds depth to struggling Stars

The Dallas Stars dipped into the UFA pool Tuesday by signing right winger Mark Parrish to a one-year contract. A 10-year NHL veteran, Parrish was a cap casualty in Minnesota over the summer after, apparently, not being able to get along with Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.

Two summers ago Parrish thought he was going home to stay. The Wild signed the Bloomington, Minn., native to a five-year, $13.25-million contract. But two seasons into the deal, Parrish – along with his 35 goals and 69 points in 142 Wild games – was bought out and set free. For its trouble, the Wild will have as much as $927,778 count towards its cap through the 2013-14 season.

The six-time 20-goal scorer, will add depth on the wing to a Dallas team that lost top-six forwards Nicklas Hagman to the Maple Leafs and Antti Miettinen, ironically, to the Wild via free agency over the summer.

The Stars were hoping to weather the storm with youngsters B.J Crombeen, Fabian Brunnstrom and James Neal, but injuries to Jere Lehtinen and Joel Lundqvist compromised what little depth there was, precipitating the Parrish signing.

The 31-year-old Parrish will have a physical later Tuesday and hopefully join the Stars Friday in Anaheim. It’s a two-way deal worth $500,000 if he sticks with the Stars or $100,000 if he ends up in the American League.

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